THE MAGIC OF REALITY
Richard Dawkins
Bantam Press
This is a large, heavy, hugely attractive production.
It is not written for “children” because I doubt if Dawkins would consider them capable of the logical scientific thought process he sets out.
He is very clear in his writing and the vocabulary is not complex (except when that is unavoidable with details of DNA, molecules, elements).
So, this is a family book.
Dawkins starts by defining what he means by “magic”. He recognises three types: supernatural magic, stage magic and what he calls poetic magic.
While admiring the skill of stage conjurors, he has thin contempt for the supernatural.
“There are a million things we can imagine but which are highly unlikely to be real – fairies and hobgoblins, leprechauns and hippogriffs.”
He explains away visions of angels as hallucinations caused by sleep paralysis.
He proceeds to examine in scientific detail such matters as the creation of the world, the process of evolution, the sun and our universe, light and rainbows, tectonic plates and earthquakes.
Each topic is preceded by a selection of myths from primitive cultures.
He recounts the flood story of Gilgamesh, the Inca sun gods, tales from the Australian Aboriginal “dreamtime”.
Dawkins notes that all origin myths assume some sort of creative being which existed before the universe was created – like Unkulukulu (the Zulu creator).
We know his firm stance as an atheist, and the fact that so many varied early peoples assumed the existence of a God naturally disappoints him.
“The magic of Aladdin’s lamp, of wizards’ spells, of the Brothers Grimm, of Hans Christian Andersen and of JK Rowling” is fictional magic and does not happen in reality.
He doesn’t mention the magic of imagination, probably because that is unscientific.
However, to most children, such magic is very real.
So, here is a beautiful book which provides intelligent explanation on a number of key scientific matters.
The illustrations by Dave McKean are stunning: a blend of clever photo collage with dramatic artwork.
There are a few cartoon-like characters and a great deal of visual assistance towards understanding knotty points of science.
Dawkins and McKean are seeking to show us the magic of science with all its purity, crystal clarity and logical proof.
As a prose poem in praise of science, the book is convincing and delightful.
I wish, therefore, that he had not decided to add a final chapter in which he derides miracles.
This is the atheist at his most cutting and disparaging.
The book is summed up in a final sentence: “There is much that remains deeply mysterious – we do not have to invent wildly implausible stories: we have the joy and excitement of real scientific investigation and discovery to keep our imaginations in line.
“And in the end, that is more exciting than fantasy.”
l Heale is an independent researcher into children’s literature. - Cape Times